Cooker for seeds.



' c.' H, FULsoN. 'cooKER PoR SEEDS. APPLICATION FILED DEO. 5, 1913.

Patented July` 28,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. H. FULSON.

COOKER FOR SEEDS.

APPLICATION FILED 1350.5, 1913.

Patentedr July 28, 1914,

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICEn CHARLES HIRAM. FULSON, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA,`ASSIGNOR TO BUCKEYE IRON AN I) BRASS WORKS, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

COOKER FOR SEEDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2s, 1914,.

Y Application led December 5, 1913. Serial No. 804,805.

To all whom 'it may "concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. FULsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cookers for Seeds,

of which the following is a specification, lreference being panying drawing.

had therein to the accom- This invention relates to cookers for seeds, such as cotton seeds, preparatory to the extracting of the oil from the seeds.

The object of the invention is to provide means for automatically discharging the contents of the cooker, or one compartment thereof, when the seeds or meats in that compartment have been cooked, that is, properlyprepared for the extraction of the oil therefrom. The cooking of the meats is w-holly a matter oftemperature. As soon as the temperature reaches the proper point the cooking is finished. This temperature does not have tov be maintained for any period of time. 1

It'is, therefore, a further object of my invention to provide mechanism controlled by the temperature of the meats within a compartment of the cooker to automatically discharge the meats therefrom when the temperature has reached a predetermined degree.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a mechanism which will be wholly automatic both in the opening and the closing" of the discharge opening; and further, to provide means whereby the discharge opening may be maintained in an` open condition for a length of time suiiicient to ermit thef discharge vof all the meats Wit in the compartment.

A further object of the invention is to produce a device of this kind which will be very simple in its construction and both simple and positive in its operation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional viewshowing a portion of one of the com artments of a cooker', of t-he type employed ihr cooking cotton seeds preparatory to extracting the oil therefrom, with my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is an g inder.

y elevation of the invention looking .toward the cooker; and F ig. 3 is a sectionalview of the piston and cylinder and their co* operating devices.

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of the invention and have shown the same as applied to a cotton seed cooker of a well known type but it will be understood that the invention is applicable to cookers or heaters of various kinds and that the mechanism hereshown is for'the purpose of illustration only.

.The invention consists broadly in providing a power-operated device for controllingthe discharge opening of the cooker with a thermostatic device for controllingvthe application ofpower to said. power-operated device. The thermostatic device, which may be` of any suitable character, is supported in such a position that it will be subjected to substantially the same heat to which the meats within the cooker are subjected and when this heat reaches a predetermined degree kthe expansion of the thermostatic device will cause the closure of the discharge opening to be moved into its open position.

In the particular embodiment of the invention shown' in the drawings a portion of Y the cooker, which may consist of one or a plurality of compartments, is shown at 1 n and. is provided with-a discharge opening 2l having a closure 43 hingedto the side wall of the. cooker, as shown at 4. lRigidly connected with the lclosure 3 are arms 5. A suitable connecting device, here shown as comprising rods 6, is securedto the outer ends of the arms 5 and connects the same with a power-operated actuating device, which, in the present instance, consists of a fluid `cylinder 7 having therein a piston 8 which is slidably connected `with a cross head9 secured between the upper ends `of the rods 6. The fluid cylinder 7 is connected at a point below the lowermost position of the piston 8 with a Huid supply pipe 10 and a suitable controlling valve is interposed between the pipey 10 and the cyl- In the present instance this controlling device is in the form of a balanced valve 11 mounted in'a valve chamber 12 connected by aconduit 13 with the bottom of the cylinder 7. The construction of the valve 11 is such that the valve will be substantially balanced but that there will be an excess of pressure inv a direction to hold the valve seated and this pressure combined \with the wei ht of the valve will hold thel same normal y on its seat and in a osition to control the flow of-luid from the supply pipe to the cylinder. The opening of this valve is controlled by the temperature within the cooker 1 and, to this end, a suitable thermostaticdevice is inserted within the cooker and connected with the valve. In thel present instance this thermostatic device is inthe form of a suitable metallic bar 14 formedof any material, or combination of materials which has a high degree of expansion and is readily a ected by heat. This bar is mounted in a casing 15 and projects radially, or substantially radially, into the cooker at a point preferably somewhat below the normal level of the meats within the cooker but above the agitators which revolve within the cooker and which facilitate the discharge of the meats therefrom when the discharge gate 3, is

open. This agitator is of a well known construction and is not here illustrated, as it does not form a part of the present Imention.

Means are also provided for cooling thethermos'tatic bar to contract ,the ,same and thusrelease the valve-actuating devices to permit the valverto close., ,In the present instance the chamber within the casing 15 in which the bar 14 is mounted is somewhat larger in diameter than the bar and is connected by a conduit 16 with the cylinder 7 and the bar itself has a longitudinal conduit 17 connected at one end by means of a port 18 with the interior of the casin 15. The bar 14 extends through a suitab e packing nut 19, or is otherwise constructed to provide a tight joint, and has at its outer portion a discharge port 20 through which the fluidv entering the conduit 17 may be discharged'. Pivotally mounted on a fixed support adjacent to the outer end of the bar 14' is a bell crank-lever 21, the lower arm of which is arranged adjacent to and in the path of the outer end of the expansible bar 14, while the outer end is arranged-in alinement with a stem 22 connected with the valve 12. Preferably, a set -screw 23 is mounted in the 'end of th'e arm to enable the same to be 'adjusted with relation to the valve stem. In order thatthe `valve may be quickly and positively, moved-to a' position to throw fopen the port leading to the cylinder I prefer to provide a spring for complet- A ing the movement ofthe valve as soon as Vprovided that `arm of the bell crank lever the same has beenunseated by the ex an- -sion of the rod 14.' For. this purpose I l ave 21, which is adjacent to the expansible rod 14, with a socket 24 having therein a spring closed position but as soon as the expansion l,

of the bar 14 has, through its direct connection with the lever 21, unseated the valve 11 and thus relieved the pressure thereon, the spring 25 Will expan and movethe valve to its full open position independently of any further movement ony the art ofthe expansible bar or thermostat. T e fluid in the pipe 10 will then enter the cylinder 7 beneath the piston 8, and elevate the latter, carrying with it the connecting devices 6 and movin the ate or closure 3 to its open position. he s idable connection between the piston andthe cross head 9 is of such a character that the upward movement of the piston will cause the cross head to move with it but will permit the piston to move down- Ward independently of the cross head if thel latter be locked inits uppermost position.

In the present embodiment of the invention .the piston is provided with a central longitudinal guideway 8a in which is slidably mounted a rod or plunger 9i1l connected at its upper end with the cross head 9. A latch 26 is pivotally mounted on one of the connecting members 6 and -is counterweighted lto cause its nose to move inward. As the connectinglmembcrs move upward this nose rides over the wall of the-.cylinder and when the cross head is in..its uppermost position the toe 'of the latch will have passed the upper end of the cylinderand will have swung into position to engagethe upper edge thereof and retain the cross head in its uppermost position, thus holding the gate or 'closure 3 in its open position. Assoon as the water or other iuid enters the cylinder 7a portion of it will pass out through the `conu1t 16 intothe casing 15 of the thermostat and out through` the conduits '17, thusv quickly cooling the expansible bar and contracting the same to its normal position, to allow the lever 21 and the valve 11 to return to their normal positions4 Means arev also preferably provided to ositively return the .valve-actuating. lever 2 tojl its normal position. In the present vinstancelihe. upward movement of.. the piston andthe connecting devices serve also to. cause `a cross Abar 28 'carriedby the connecting device near itsy lower endjtoengagethe 1l crank lever 21 and move the same towar itsnormal posi- I las;

tion, the lower arm of the bell crank levei` having preferably an inclined edge 29 arranged to be engaged by the cross bar 28. As soon as the ressure on the lever 2l has been relieved, ltIhe weight of the valve 11 will cause it to descend and seat itself, thus cutting olf the flow of water to the cylinder. After the cylinder has been cut oif1 from its source of fiuid supply the Huid will continue to escape throu h the port 16 and the piston will descend. uring the descent of the piston, however, the closure or gate 3 is held 'open bythe latch 26. Means are provided whereby as the piston approaches its lowerniost position the connecting device 6 will be released and the gate 3 closed, this being accomplished, in the present instance, by a trip device 30 carried by the upper end of the piston and arranged to engage the latch 26 and disengage the same from the fixed part which serves to hold the connecting device in its uppermost posit-ion.

The weight of the connecting device and the parts carried thereby will ordinarily be sulicient to close the gate 3 and retain the same closed, but if desirable additional weight may be applied thereto. The iiow of fluid through the port 16 is so timed as to cause the descent of the piston 8 tooccu y a suiicient amount of time to permit all the meats toV be discharged from the cooker and in order that the timing ofthe piston may be regulated an adjustable valve, such as the screw valve 31, is provided to regulate the How of fluid through the conduit 16. i

The thermostatic device may be mounted on the cooker in any suitable manner, but, in the present instance, I have formed ya recess in the vertical wallof the cooker and have mounted therein a block or casting 32 which carries the casing and is rigidly secured to a plate 33 overlapping the edgesV of the opening' and secured to the wall ofthe cooker by bolts or screws 34. This plate 33 is rigidly secured to and, be formed integral with the cylinder 7 and the connection between the block 32 and the plate 33 is suchas to form tween the two parts of the conduit 16.

The operation of the mechanism has been/j1 fully described in connection with the d'escription of the several parts thereof. Briefly, it is as follows: with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1 a charge of seeds or other material to be cooked is placed in the cooker 1 and subjected to heat therein. As the heat gradually increases the thermostatic bar'expands and when the heat has reached a predetermined temperature, which is sufficient td cook the meats, the expansion will j have been such -as to have forced the valve ll1 `from itsseat".Y As soon ask the valve 11 is' vthe spring will pressure thereon relieved, completely epen the valve and permit the free flow o'f ui' to the cylinunseated, and the if desired, may

a tight joint beder 7., thereby quickly raising the piston 8 and opening the closure 3. The closure is locked in its open position, in the manner described, and, the thermostat having cooled and contracted, the valve 11 again seats itself, cutting off the flow of iuid to the cylinder and permitting the cylinder to move downward to its normal position. While the piston is .moving downward the meal is being dischargedlthrough the opening 2 of the cooker and `when the piston approaches its lowermost position the latch will be tripped and the connecting arms permitted to move downward and close the gate 3, thereby restoring the parts to the position shown in Fig. 1.

embodiment of my invention it will be understood that this has been chosen for the purposes of illustration only and that I do not'desire to be limited to the details of construction 'shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, desire to secure by what I claim as new and Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a stationary Acooker having 4a discharge opening, and a hinged closure for said opening, of an actuating device for said closure, means to control the operation of said actuating device,

While I have shown and described one and a thermostat mounted in said cooker and connected with said controlling means;

2. The combination, with a cooker to contain a quantity of meats to be cooked and having a discharge opening, and a closure for said opening, of an actuating device for :said closure, means to control the operation .of said actuating device, a thermostat carjried by the wall of said cooker and projecting into the meats within the sameand conected with said controlling means. j*

3. The combination, with a cooker having a discharge opening, and a closure for said bpening, of a Huid-operated device for actu- ,ating said closure, a valve tocontrol the bperation of said actuating device, and a hermostat mounted in said cooker and"con ected with said valve to open the same when the heat within said cooker reaches a predetermined degree. v l 4., Thecombination, with a cooker having a dischargey opening, and a closure for-said opening, of la fluid-operated device for actuating said closure, a valve to control the operation of said actuating device, and a therinostatmounted within said cooker and having a part extending beyond the wall'thereo anda lever interposed between the outer end of said thermostat and said valve, whereby the expansion of said thermostat will actuate said lever to unseat said valve. 5. ',Ihe combination, with a cooker having a .discharge opening, and a closure for said opening, of a fluid-operated device for actuating said closure, a valve to control the operation of said actuating device, and a thermostat mounted within said cooker and having a part extending beyond the wall thereof, a lever interposed between the outer end of said thermostat and said valve,where by the expansion of said thermostat will actuate said lever to unseat said valve, and a spring interposed between said lever and said thermostat and arranged to be compressed by the expansion of said. thermostat and to expand after said valve has been unseated, thereby completing the movement of said valve.

6. The combination, with a cooker having a discharge opening, and a closure for said opening, of a fluid-operated device for actuating said closure, a valve to control the operation of said actuating device, a thermostat mounted in said cooker and connected with said valve to open the same when the heat within said cooker reaches a predetermined degree, and means to cause said thermostat to contract after said valve has been opened and said actuating device has been operated. Y

7 The combination, with ya cooker having a discharge opening, and a closure for said opening, of a fluid-operated device for actuating said closure, a valve to control the operation of said actuating device, a thermostat mounted in said cooker and connected with said valve to o en the saine when the heat within said coo er reaches apredetermined degree, and a connection between said fluid-operated device and said thermostat to subject the latter to the coolin action of the fluid, thereby contracting t e saine to permit the parts to return to -their normal positions.

8. The combination, with a cooker having a discharge-opening, and a closure for said opening, of a fluid-operated device to actuate said closure, a valve toicontrol the flow of fluid to said device, a thermostat mounted within said cooker and comprising a hollow casing, and an expansible member mounted therein, a connection between said expansible member and said valve, wherebythe expansion of said member will open said valve, and a connection between said hollow casing and said fluid-operated device, whereby .a portion of the fluid pas will enter said casing. y

9. The combination, with acooker having a discharge opening, and a closure for said opening, of a Huid-operated device to actuate said closure, a valve to control the flow of fluid to said device, a thermostat mounted in said cooker and comprising a tubular casing closed at both ends and in open conit munication with said fluid-operated device, an expansible member mounted, 1n said tubular casing and extending through the ving `sing said valve closed inner end thereof, said expansible I a discharge openin beyond the outer end of said casing, an a connection between said expansible member and said valve.

10. The combination, with a cooker having a discharge opening, and a closure lfor said opening, of a fluid-operated device to actuate said closure, a valve to control the flow of fluid to said device, a thermostat mounted within said cooker and comprising a hollow casing, and an expansible member mounted therein, a connection between said expansible member and said valve, whereby the expansion of said member will open said valve, a connection between said hollow casing and said fluid-operated device, whereby a portion of the fluid passing said valve will enter said casing, and means to regulate -the passage of the fluid from saidl power-operated device to said 4hollow casing. 11. The combination, with a cooker having a discharge opening, and a closure for said opening, of an actuating device for said closure, a thermostat to control the operation of said actuating device, and means to retain said closure in its open position for a predetermined period of tune.

12. The combination, with a cooker having'a discharge opening, and a closure for said opening, of a fluid-operated device comprising a cylinder, a valve to control the flow of fluid to said cylinder, a'piston mounted in said cylinder, a connection between` said piston and said closure, a thermostat to open said valve, and means to retain said closure in its open position While said piston returns to its normal position.

13. The combination, with a cooker havsaid opening, of a fluid-operated/device comprising a cylinder, a valve to control the flow of fluid to saidtylinder, a piston mounted in said cylinder, a connecting device connecting said piston with said closure, a detent"l to retain said connecting device in its `uppermost position, and means carried by said piston to disengage said detent and permit said connecting device landsaid closure to return to their normal positions.

14. The combination, with a'cooker havi ing aldischarg'e opening, and a closure for said opening, of a fluid-operated device comprising a cylinder, a valve to 'control the flow of fluid to said cylinder, a pistonmounted in said cylinder, a connecting'device to 'connect said piston with said closure, a thermostat mounted ,in said cooker, a-lever interposed between said thermostat and said v -.valve,"whereby thefexpansion 4oli' said/thermostat will lopen said valve and cause said piston to be actuated, and means carried by said 'connecting device to return said lever a discharge-opening, and a closure for 1,104,981 t v B to its normal position to permit said valve to to cause said thermostat to contract after be seated when said piston is moved to its said actuating device has opened said clo-V uppermost position.l sure. v 15. The combination, With a cooker hav- In testimony whereof, I aix my signature 5 ing a discharge opening, and a closure for in presence of two Witnesses. f

closure, a thermostat connected with said said opening, of an actuating device for said o CHARLES HIRAM FULSOK, I n

actuating device to cause saddevce to open Witnesses: said closure when the heat 1n sald cooker BESSIE V. JONES, 10 reaches a predetermlned degree, and means ,p JOHN HUNDLESS. 

